I am currently in the process of writing a book, rather long and hopefully substantial, after five years break from book writing – although I haven’t stopped writing articles and poems. The theme of the book concerns the application of the dharma in the West.
I believe the only way that dharma can take deep root in the West is through teachers offering deep teachings addressing in a comprehensive way the four truths of the noble ones, specific conditionality, dependent arising and emptiness of self. The Buddha said these teachings are difficult to comprehend. It is the task and challenge of dharma teachers and seniors in the dharma to ensure these profound teachings are made available on a consistent basis.
My book falls into four sections. A Matter of the Concern. A Matter of the Heart. A Matter of Inquiry. A Matter of Contemporary Issues. There are 24 chapters addressing various concerns about the Dharma in the West.
I have a target audience – to use a popular rhetoric among publishers. I have written the book for those dedicated to the dharma – centres, teachers, seniors, dedicated yogis and for the worldwide network of Buddhists in the West for whom the Dharma takes priority in life.
I have completed the writing. I am now very slowly polishing and editing, and then will hand it over to Jenny in Totnes who has carefully offered to edit it. She has edited several articles of mine put out in the Dharma eNews. She has saved me a few times from slipping into a polemic. I have adapted and worked on in detail some of those articles in the Dharma eNews to make them suitable for the book.
I have used numerous reflections, copious notes and memories of the variety of concerns that Western dharma students have spoken to me about as the Dharma unfolds in the West. I have attempted to address their concerns.
The book endeavours to stay true to the Buddha-Dharma, with regular quotations in every chapter, a personal story or two in every chapter, first hand experience of meditation and teaching, and sharing the understanding that springs from experience.
I have tried to fully address the questions and concerns of dharma yogis in depth on relative and ultimate issues in a straightforward and very readable form. I am very pleased with what has been written. I trust you will be too.